Swindon & Wiltshire News
Jobs still down in Wiltshire — but signs of a turnaround in recent months
There are signs of returning confidence among employers, with organisations reporting an increase of 259 on payroll over the past month, according to analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics payroll data by the employment and pay app WageSight.
Overall, employment in Wiltshire remains lower than a year ago, with employers reporting payroll headcount down 359 (-0.2 per cent) year-on-year.
Compared with other local authorities in the South West, Wiltshire ranks 14th out of 27, placing it among the weakest performers for employment change.
The trend in Wiltshire reflects a mixed employment picture across the South West, with some areas reporting improvements while others continue to see pressure on payroll numbers.
Nationally, employment levels have shown a mixed picture over the past year, creating a challenging backdrop.
Paul Hebden, WageSight director, said: “Although employment in Wiltshire remains lower than a year ago, recent month-on-month figures suggest some stabilisation in recent months.
“Whether this marks a genuine turning point or a temporary pause in job losses will become clearer over the next few months.
“It remains too early to say whether recent changes mark the start of a sustained shift, or a temporary fluctuation.”
Key statistics
Employees on payroll: 231,258
MoM: 0.1 per cent
YoY: -0.2 per cent
Latest employment data for February 2026 shows the number of employees on payroll in Wiltshire was 231,258, down -0.2 per cent on the same month last year.
